Wind Power News: Isle of Man

These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.

Amended plans have been submitted for three 10Kw wind turbines in Rushen to allay concerns about the impact of the development on birds. Cheeseden Investments Limited applied in 2014 for the turbines on land at Ballaman in Ballnahowe Road, Port Erin. But the application (14/00632/B) has been under consideration ever since then, with concerns – particularly about the red-billed chough – raised by Manx Wildlife Trust, Manx BirdLife, Manx Natural Heritage and the Manx Chough Project. In December 2016, Rushen . . .Complete story »

A petition signed by 40 residents against a plan for three wind turbines overlooking Port Erin has joined the chorus voicing opposition to the proposal. The application ((14/00632/B) by Cheeseden Investments Ltd) for the turbines is at a home owned by billionaire property magnate John Whittaker at his home at Ballaman in Rushen parish. The petition raised several objections including that three 18.5-metre-high wind turbines would have ‘a significant visual impact’ and that it contravenes five policies in the strategic . . .Complete story »

Another proposal to erect three 10kw wind turbines on the headland overlooking Port Erin bay has been submitted on property owned by billionaire property magnate John Whittaker. This is the second time permission has been sought for the plan (14/00632/B) by Cheeseden Investments Ltd. Each turbine will be 15 metres high and have a seven-metre diameter grey blade. Mr Whittaker is chairman of the Peel Group, which owns a number of properties and businesses, including Liverpool Airport, and has an . . .Complete story »

A former Merchant Navy Captain has warned of potential disruptions to ferry and freight routes, if plans for a wind farm off the coast of Ramsey go ahead. Yesterday, Dong Energy signed a lease agreement with the Government to survey the area, as they look to bring in as many as a hundred turbines. Mezeron and Stena vessels would both have to alter their services if the current blueprints were put in place – as the wind farm would obstruct . . .Complete story »

Are windfarms no longer seen as the answer to cutting the island’s carbon emissions? Tynwald last month voted to commit the island to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050. But at this month’s sitting of court, Environment Minister Richard Ronan said the government did not want to promote wind farms for local use. Replying to a question from Peter Karran (LibVan, Onchan), he said: ‘Government currently has no plans to offer equivalent subsidies to those in . . .Complete story »

The turbines for a major extension to an offshore wind farm in the Irish Sea will be significantly larger than the ones currently used. Developer DONG Energy have announced MHI Vestas Offshore Wind as their preferred partner to supply the turbines for the extension to the 102-turbine Walney Array off the coast of Cumbria. The developer intends to use Vestas’ eight-megawatt V164 turbines. Visible from the east coast of the Isle of Man on a clear day, the existing Walney . . .Complete story »

The Manx Wildlife Trust says it has some worries over government plans for a windfarm off the Island’s East coast. Earlier this week, the Department of Infrastructure unveiled proposals to rent out enough seabed for a 700 megawatt offshore wind farm – swelling government coffers by around £5 million a year. But with diverse wildlife in the sea around the Isle of Man, the Trust says it has some environmental concerns. The Trust’s Marine Officer Lara Howe says more information . . .Complete story »

An energy firm’s decision to scrap its Irish Sea wind farm plans brings into question proposals for Manx waters. As the Courier reported last week, Celtic Array, a joint venture between Centrica and Dong Energy, announced it was pulling out of all schemes in the Irish Sea zone, citing ‘challenging’ seabed conditions which it said made it ‘economically unviable with current technology’. The news came as a shock as Celtic Array had just completed the second round of a costly . . .Complete story »

A leading tourism industry body on the Island says it is relieved plans for a huge windfarm off the Welsh coast have been scrapped. Last week, Centrica and Dong Energy said they were dropping proposals to put 440 turbines in the sea between the Isle of Man and the UK. Now, the Manx Hospitality Partnership has welcomed the news after worries the plans would restrict ferry travel. Chairman Theo Fleurbaay says it is good news for Manx tourism. |Complete story »

TravelWatch Isle of Man is delighted to learn of the withdrawal of Celtic Array’s threat to build wind turbines which would have caused major disruption to vital ferry routes linking the Island with Heysham and Liverpool. Celtic Array have announced that their withdrawal is due to adverse ground conditions found in the sea-bed, and the company has therefore handed back its licence to the Crown Estate. Recent reports in the business press suggest that plans for a series of new . . .Complete story »